to the stars, in order to see that they appear, and night is actually come, before sitting down to eat.

(12.) This is the manner in which the approach of the fairies is usually described.

(13.) The fairy castles were supposed to be moveable at pleasure, invisible to human eyes, and generally built in ancient forths or raths.

(14.) It was a general superstition that a new-born child, before baptism-or even the mother herself, might be thus carried away.

(15.) It was vulgarly thought that the fairies take such women as Mary was, to nurse those children whom they have carried away.

(16.) These were all celebrated haunts of the fabled sprites.

(17.) This chief was one of the many, whom the fertile invention of poets has assigned to the fairies; and whom the simple credulity of the ignorant has received. Finvar was another of these kings, whose enchanted castle was at Knock Magha, as that of Macaneantan was at Sgraba.

(18.) This story affords a specimen of the popular superstitions of Ireland. Such fictions prevail, more or less, in all countries, according to the degree of information which the common people possess. And it is much to be regretted that they should be very prevalent in the country parts of Ireland, owing, in a great measure, to the want of more valuable knowledge. There is reason to hope, however, that the decay of such superstitions is not far distant, and that the diffusion of learning will remove every vestige of them. In the mean time, these playful inventions of fancy will serve to amuse the reader; nor will they appear more extravagant than the poetic fictions of ancient times.

END OF THE SECOND PART.

AN

:

INTRODUCTION

TO THE

THE

IRISH LANGUAGE.

PART THIRD.

EXTRACTS FROM IRISH BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS.

2 K

The alphabet was variously arranged by ancient authors, usually beginning with 6, 1, and ; but the above has been universally adopted by the moderns.

The

The following abbreviations are commonly used. in printed books: viz,

bh, ch, dì, fh, gh, mh, ph, sh, th, tt.

agus, ar, air, ao, ea, cht, ui, nn,

Many other contractions have been introduced, in different books, but those that are inserted here are the most usual, and the rest may be found in the plates of contractions, at the end of the book.

The following sentences will furnish an exercise, in reading the Irish character.

Seanrajte, an treas cajbjdj.

1. 2 mjc, na dearmajd mo dljġead: AĆT ćαjṁEADAD do črolde majċeanta.

2. Or do bearajó had cugad fad laeċead, 7 faoğal pada, 7 sjoċċajn.

3. Na treizead trocaire & fíriñe żu; ceangail fad bragajd jad, ajr član to crojde.

4. Margin Do jeabą zu fabar, agus engre maje a padane de 7 Dwine.

5. Cnr do Dojġ a ndja pe do nle ¿rojde, 7 na bj taob re do TNGLE KÉJN.

6. Añ do šliÿ¿jb ŕle adṁŕġ ession, & Do Deana je do rliġċe díreać.

7. Na bj glc añ do jŕb xejn: bod eagla De opt, & feaćajn, an tole.

8. bjajo sin na sláinte dod jmljñ, & na SMJOR DOD Enaṁvb.

9. Onorvig an Tiġearna le do maojn, 7 le Primidil hule biis.

PROVERBS,